Founded in 1974, Dobson Pipe Organ Builders is a renowned American organ builder known for crafting high-quality pipe organs headquartered in Lake City, Iowa. They have organs in 29 states and the District of Columbia, England, and Australia. A few days after a June 2021 fire destroyed the Dobson Pipe Organ Builders workshop, Deana Hoeg-Ryan … Continue reading CIRAS Support When You Need It Most
Star Equipment, a Des Moines-based company that sells, rents, and services construction equipment, parts, and supplies, experienced significant government work growth thanks to CIRAS. They finetuned their BidMatch profile, which the company uses to find and compete for jobs. “We’re getting a better look at what municipal and government agencies require and how we might … Continue reading The Power of a Refined BidMatch Profile
Investing in new technology can be risky. The financial outlay can be high, and confidence that the technology will deliver an adequate return on investment can be low. Similar to numerous manufacturers, Dickson Industries, a Des Moines-based company specializing in custom food packaging and textiles, had the potential to increase its sales. However, like other … Continue reading Dickson Turns to CIRAS for Automation Support
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a widely available method to translate once mundane and tedious tasks into efficient automated processes with assistance from computer systems in place of human labor. Due to the availability of technologies like ChatGPT, access to the benefits of AI is more prevalent now than ever before. But it is … Continue reading Navigating Artificial Intelligence Opportunities
David Blake, whose company Blue-9 Pet Products makes dog training and behavior products, needed a rubber mat. The specially designed mat is used on the KLIMB®, a platform used to train hunting/sport dogs. Blake’s mat maker was going out of business, leaving Blue-9 in need of a new vendor. He found one in South Dakota … Continue reading Making Vital Supply Connections
The term ‘culture’ is used in different ways with many different interpretations. When it comes to a business and its workforce though, I prefer describing culture as the personality of a business. Just like people, those personalities have benefits and drawbacks. Energetic businesses are busy coming up with new innovative ideas, they are social, adventurous … Continue reading Elevating Business Success through Cultural Transformation
Steve Forbes joined CIRAS as a Process Improvement Project Manager. Steve Forbes brings a rich background in Lean thinking and methodologies from various manufacturing environments. His most recent role was as the Lean Training Specialist for Iowa Prison Industries (IPI), where he co-developed the Prison Industries Manufacturing and Management System (PIMMS). PIMMS is a Toyota-based … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Steve Forbes
An in-person training to better understand BidX and the DOT bidding systems will occur on Thursday, February 29th, in Ames. This software is an incredible tool to help vendors bid on DOT Contracts and Specifications projects and connect prime contractors to subcontractors. Lunch will be provided, and this event does require you to register in … Continue reading CIRAS Offers Bid Express Training
The Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program, managed by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, offers financial support to enhance small-scale meat processing operations, including licensed custom lockers and mobile slaughter units. The program targets businesses seeking to expand, refurbish, or establish new facilities, providing grants of up to $100,000 with a one-to-one matching requirement. For … Continue reading Enhance your meat processing capabilities with the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Program
Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. I like to say, I help companies solve their problems. This can mean I help them identify a new supplier or it can mean, I connect them to a resource either at CIRAS or external … Continue reading Q & A with Melissa Burant